What’s the best way to the summit of Mount Everest? You could answer that it is the south col route from Nepal or maybe that it is via the north east ridge from China. Either way, the journey really starts at a point somewhere else altogether.

In order to stand a chance of reaching the summit you will require mountaineering skills and experience of climbing at high altitude, as well as physical and mental stamina. Proper planning and support are also essential. It can take several years or more to develop these skills.

On the 25/26 May the London 2 Brighton Challenge will be taking place. Now in its third year, this 100 km event is extremely popular for charity fund raising. One of the charity partners is The Hunger Project, and they are looking for volunteers to take part in the event. You can choose to walk, jog or run the 100 km route, so why not sign up and take the challenge?

Following on from our recent blog post, in which solo climber Mike Dunne talks about his loves and hates of the climbing in the Lake District, we are pleased to present a post written by a climber from the United States.

Paul Roberts is from New York state and has spent the past 3 years climbing in many parts of the USA, from New Hampshire to California. In June this year he’ll be launching a cross country/get to college/climbing trip that will take him climbing all over the country, ending in Prescott Arizona where he’ll be studying adventure education and environmental policy at college.

The Decagon Jacket is a hooded, waterproof jacket. Whilst it is primarily aimed at the skiing and snow boarding market, the Decagon is highly suitable for general outdoor wear too. It has a fashionable urban design and would look great on the street as well as on the slopes! Made from fully seam sealed HyVent 2 fabric, it is waterproof and breathable. As you would expect from The North Face, the Decagon has an array of features that make it both practical and comfortable.